Origins of the Industrial Revolution and the Aesthetics of Labor in the Victorian Visual Sources

The Industrial Revolution changed the nature of labor and society in Great Britain, which was undergoing rapid social and economic changes due to the development of mechanized working methods. The reign of Queen Victoria is characterized by a frequent alternation of welfare with stagnation in the economy, which was reflected in the perception of the industrial revolution and the evaluation of its significance by contemporaries. A positive image of industrial England was created with the help of the artists of historical and genre painting. In their desire to reflect the important industrial transformations of their time, Victorian artists turned to the origins of the industrial revolution. The article will investigate the history of the creation of Joseph Wright's "The Iron Forge" (1772) and its influence on the work of the Victorians, as well as explore scenes from the history of the industrialization of the English cities, the development of the railway, social shocks and economic achievements that were captured by English artists of the 19th century.